Family Camping - More Tips and Tricks (+ Giveaways)

Camping with young kids always takes a bit more thought and planning.  We've accepted the fact that the sleepless nights, dirty kids, bringing along a little potty and working hard to keep the mosquitoes at bay for our (apparently sweet) 3-year-old are just part of the game (which will change with time.)

To be perfectly honest, I dread the sleeping part of camping right now.

Laying awake I certainly spend some time daydreaming about years down the road where sleeping through the night is a possibility, even in a tent.  While it won't keep us from camping and getting out whenever we can, it certainly means built-in naps for Mama (because everyone else manages to sleep through the "struggles") in the hammock are a must if we want to do anything productive the following day(s).  I certainly won't claim to be an expert in everything, so this is my plea for anyone with tips to get a 1-year-old to be ok in a sleeping bag to send them on our way!

But, like I say often on here, the experiences are absolutely worth it and practice makes perfect.  While our summer adventures mean being open to the fact that they could be cancelled (very) last minute due to a wildfire (thanks to Mtn Papa's job) we are working hard to cram everything in we can (while still remaining sane!)  It's part of the "no excuses" motto we try to live by.

Yes, it takes more work.
Yes, it can be draining.
Yes, mistakes are made and lessons learned.
Yes, sometimes I want to bag it and head on home.
AND
Yes, it brings us closer as a family.
Yes, it is getting easier as our kids get older.
Yes, every kid is different (which means different perks AND struggles).
Yes, we will continue doing it (the big AND the little adventures.)

This past weekend we spent some time talking about our current favorite bring-alongs for camping.  The things we miss when we don't have them and may not have thought about previously.  This list is not comprehensive and is a bit random, but worth sharing.  It's the little extras (so does not cover the basics like tent and sleeping bags!)  Plus, read to the end for your chance to win some of them!

Braving the Boys - A Conversation with the Brave Ski Mom

Through my blog, I’ve come to meet many other moms who write about their family adventures in the outdoors. Today, the Brave Ski Mom and I share a short dialogue we recently had about camping, hiking and getting outside. We both have two sons. My boys are young, hers are both teens.  So what do we have in common? Are their some universal family experiences? Here’s a bit of what we found out. (Note - BSM will also be publishing this interview on her blog so feel free to pop over there if you have questions for her!)

How old are your children? When did you start taking them on outdoor adventures?

MM: Our boys are three and one.  They are happy, needy, BUSY and stubborn!   Our oldest was camping at about 10 weeks (and even though it was July, the nights were still freezing!) and our younger son went on his first camping trip at about 4 weeks (after 6 weeks of bed rest for me, I was desperate to get out so we didn’t wait!)  Both boys were preemies, but strong and healthy. 

Thanks to a Moby Wrap and my Boba 3G (both baby carriers) we were out hiking with both of them within three weeks.  Nothing strenuous and I was certainly checking them often, but they were out there (and so were we!)

BSM: Our boys are now 15 and 13. I am not sure how that happened, but it did and it does! Our oldest went on his first expedition when he was four weeks old. BUT, we didn’t go camping. Instead we went to the family cabin at 10,000 feet. He spent the entire weekend in a Patagonia fleece bunting, but we were out there hiking. He also slept through the night for the first time on this  (thank you high altitude air). Our younger son was born in April, so I think he probably went camping at about 8 weeks.

BSM 

When they were little, we carried them, but by about age 2, both boys were done with being carried and wanted to hike on their own. When they were little, we were very respectful of their size and stamina. As they grew, a big challenge for us was not interpreting their enthusiasm for strength and ability. We made some big mistakes talking them into “death marches.” These hikes were too long, in both distance and time, and they almost stifled our boys’ desire to hike. Just because a child CAN hike a long distance, doesn’t mean they should.

Camping in the Backyard IS Camping!

I'm going to let you in on a little secret: I wasn't too psyched about camping out in our backyard this weekend for the Great American Backyard Campout.

I would have preferred to have been camping somewhere secluded with excellent views and no distractions.  However, our summers are dictated by the wildland fire season and we simply have to make the most of the time we have.  Mtn Papa was working late yesterday so instead of bailing, we decided to embrace the opportunity.  Nothing happens when you wait around for the perfect situation to come together.  Nothing.

And while we are being honest.... I figured this Mama would be MUCH too tempted to sneak back in her bed when the going got rough (AKA Mr. Horrible Sleeper not sleeping.)

It went much better than I expected.

Ready to head out to the backyard

*Guest Post* Genesis of a Climbing Family

Adam Nutting had something come up and will continue his Trekking Pole series in a couple of weeks! Stay tuned for that!


However, I am very excited to have Alyssa from The Kid Project on the blog today guesting about climbing.  Previously, we had Justin on the blog with his own tips about taking your kids rock climbing.  Alyssa now adds her own twist and personal family experience.  Again, climbing is not something we have done (yet) with our own kids, so I am learning here too (which is what I LOVE about having guest posters on the blog!)  As always, check out her bio at the end and feel free to leave her feedback in the comments.

People ask us when we started climbing. They ask us when our kids started climbing. Sometimes they don’t ask, they say rather emphatically, “you cannot rock climb AND have  young kids. It doesn’t work.” And if I take a good hard look at having young kids and I am honest, then I will openly admit it is really hard. Draining, exhausting, astonishing, confusing, and abundant in dysfunction. I can see why they told us “it cannot happen.”

When our first baby was born, I was told over and over, “get ready for some major life change, honey!” Vomit. While it was true, the lie hidden underneath their exasperated tone was that all I loved and enjoyed was about to be slayed on the proverbial altar. And I believed them. And my life was a like a self full-filled prophecy.

But as the joy ebbed out of our lives, my husband and I decided to make a change. We needed a breath of fresh air, both literally and figuratively. For us it was climbing, camping, skiing- the active things that reminded us of the beauty of creation and the fun of having a family. It was “sink or swim” time. You either figure out how to bring the kids along, or you don’t. Simple as that.

So...back to those original questions:

Light up the Night with the Great American Backyard Campout

This coming Saturday, June 23rd, The National Wildlife Federation, REI and Coleman are sponsoring a huge event called the Great American Backyard Campout.  Designed to help encourage families to go camping, even if it just in your backyard, they are setting-up camp across the country.

We are honored to be participating in a blogger link-up to help encourage families to get out there.  We, too, will be setting up camp in our backyard (and hopefully later that weekend in Yellowstone National Park.)  Watch for our report of how it went next week.  We highly encourage you to get out camping with your family (this weekend, or whenever you can squeeze it in.)  Your family is worth it!

Light up the Night
When we are out camping/hiking/skiing, headlamps are something we just don't leave without.  They serve their practical function of helping us see in the dark AND are a great source of entertainment for the kids (err...and adults.)
They also....
- Help watch for wildlife in the night (you know, when you hear "that sound".)
- Provide a catalyst for shadow puppets on tent walls
- Can be used to play Flashlight Tag
- Come in handy for middle-of-the-night bathroom emergencies
- Are used to help find missing items as the light from the campfire dies down before bed
- Provide light when Burn Bans are in effect and campfires can't happen (SAD as that is!)
- Help with reading in the dark (or under the covers)

I asked around (other bloggers, my boy-scout nephews, the general public) and got a wide range of answers for favorite camping light sources.  Here's what I found between those experts and our own first-hand knowledge:

Headlamps:  A family favorite, we all have them.  Because we think they are the most multifunctional light out there, it is what we will focus on here.  Besides for camping, we use them for biking at night, backyard campfires, Moon-Lit (when the moon is a bit weak) Skis, and happily welcome any other uses.

Fun and Functional 
LEGO Minifigure LED Headlamp ($15)
These aren't going to last under super harsh conditions (ours got too cold camping this past winter and had to warm up before they started working again,) but they are fun, provide a good light output, and convince kids to actually wear a headlamp.  Both our boys wear them and love them.

Playvisions Zoo Light Frog Headlamp ($15)
Also an LED light, this one apparently makes sounds too (good fun for the kids, annoying in the tent at night..)  We have NOT tried this one, but another fun option for smaller tykes.

Cyclops Hat Clip Light ($12.99)

Highly recommended by those Expert Boy-Scout Nephews of mine, these are new to me.  However, they say they "are small, practical, and a good price for the light."  Great for those campers that love to wear hats!

For the Love of Dads

Father's Day is fast approaching this weekend, and we wanted to take a moment to honor a couple of dads around here and link you up to some fabulous "Outdoor Dad" posts.

For Mtn Papa who works hard to make sure we continue getting outdoors and staying active as a family as you love us so very well.  

And for the Grandpas that helped shape us into the Outdoor Enthusiasts that we are!

We love you!

Great Outdoor Dad Blog Posts:

Dads Who Blog About Getting Kids Outside - Go Explore Nature

Reasons to Love Camping Dads - The Campy Mom

Handy Dad in the Great Outdoors  (giveaway ended yesterday, but book suggestion is great!!)

Father's Day Gift Ideas for the Outdoorsy Dad - Great Wild Outdoors
Thoughts on Adventure and Fatherhood - Adventure Parents
Father's Day Recipes for Every Dad - Pocket Ranger Blog
What's a Dad to do in Alaska? Everything - AK on the Go
Friday's Gift -Dads - Family Adventures in the Canadian Rockies

Bloggers - please feel free to link up any Father's Day posts you have in the comments! Thank you!!!

Move Those Kids! (+ Onya and Tula Baby Carrier Reviews)

We're in a brand new town, discovering new mountains around us and spending a lot of time tromping (or riding) through the ground to get a feel for the area.  We truly believe the best way to get to know a new place is by experiencing it.  That means leaving the house every day by foot, bike or carrier/stroller (if walking isn't your forte yet....)  It means talking to every local you can find (and weeding through a lot of tourists to get to them), dodging Bison dung (and keeping an inquisitive almost-toddler with an oral fixation from tasting it), braving the rain and snow and just getting out there.  

Both Mtn Papa and I have lived a lot of places where you really have to work to get to know the community.  It requires engaging in whatever happenings are out there, being ok with the fact that you may have to (gasp!) make your own fun, and just being ok with where you are at.  I find it a great tragedy to run into people who HATE the small town they are in, and yet choose to not go out and discover, explore and BE a part of the community.

As a family, we have a variety of ways to cart around our kids.  We justify the strollers, kid carrier backpacks, wagons, bikes, trailers, and soft structured baby carriers by the fact that they are helping us move as a family and enjoy the great outdoors.

Previously on the blog, I reviewed our Chariot, Osprey Poco Plus, Kelty Pathfinder, Deuter Kid Carrier III, Boba 3G and today I am happy to introduce you to the Onya Baby carrier and Tula Toddler Carrier.  Both are unique in their own respects and have opened up new elements of freedom for us.  Don't get me wrong - I don't think every family needs 100 baby carriers, every framed kid carrier backpack and a variety of bike trailers.  You do what works for your family.  I just take it as my "job" to help you know what is out there!

Outfitting the Kids for Summer + iPlay giveaway

While it always takes longer that I expect it to, we have finally REALLY made it to summer around here. Days (entire days....) are spent outdoors and naps come easily (for all of us!)

Staying safe while playing outside is top priority for us, and we work hard to make sure we are protected from the sun.  Our higher elevation means skin burns come easier and quicker.  While there are plenty of incredible sun-protective clothing lines out there for kids, here are some of our must-have favorites:

Patagonia Sun-Lite Top ($29)

Available in sizes 3M - 5T in blue, green and pink

Both of our boys have these shirts and we wear them almost daily.  They are a quick alternative to sunscreen and comfortable for them!

What we love:

- Certainly light and cool

- They cover the back of their neck well

Not so crazy about:

- While they are not necessarily designed for water-use, the boys wear them for time in the kiddie pool. They DO dry fairly quickly, but not as quickly as I had hoped.  They also tend to stretch out when wet.  

- Like most Patagonia infant/baby/toddler clothing, they run big!  Plan on sizing down or buy their normal size (what we did) and know they will have room to grow.

Explore: No Agenda, No Destination, No Rules.

Adventures happen every day. 

They aren’t necessarily an “event” that requires a lot of planning or foresight to make happen.  Granted, some camping trips, backpacking trips or longer hikes certainly require thinking ahead a little (or a lot), BUT we easily forget about those moments of discovery and exploration that are so crucial to connecting with the world around us.

Helping foster exploration, creativity and wonder in kids is as important as it is easy, because they LOVE to discover.  My boys can sit in front of a pile of dirt and be content for hours. 

As a family, we make it a habit to get into the woods and just do some exploring as often as we can. 

No agenda.  No destination.  No rules.   And more often than not, no trails.  Just eyes-open, ears in-tune and taking in the beauty of nature with each breath. 

Camping with Kids (Book Review, Author Interview and Giveaway!)

Camping with kids is not the same as camping in college with a bunch of buddies.  No secret there!  It requires more stuff, more patience, more planning AND results in a whole lot of fun.  I get emails all the time from people asking for our own camping tips with babies/toddlers.  Some posts in response to those are in the works, but in the meantime I am SO excited to introduce a fabulous book to you all that I think is currently THE handbook for family camping (if I may be so bold in saying so!)  

The Down and Dirty Guide to Camping with Kids by Helen Olsson encompasses a whole range of aspects of camping as a family.  And yep, there is a WHOLE lot more to think about than just sleeping and eating!  The book is an easy read with cute vintage pictures, tons of check-lists (which I happen to be a sucker for!) and sprinkled throughout with "Smart Tips" to highlight the really important stuff.  Helen's writing is humorous, informative and will draw you right in saying "that's us!" if you are a parent!  I truly feel like she wrote the book I just haven't gotten around to yet. :)  And be sure to read her introduction - we're kindred spirits on the importance of having some Family Screen-Free time!

Photo by Julia Vandenoever

Because I wanted you to hear a little more about her book from her own witty words, I was thrilled to be able to track Helen down for a little interview (and um, I am still laughing about #4.....):

psssttt..... read to the very end for a chance to win a copy of the book for yourself!

1.  So very honored to have you on the blog, Helen.  I am a huge fan of your book and think your wisdom reaches out to a full spectrum of camping families.  Can you tell me, first of all, a little about yourself for people that don't "know" you? (yourself, your family, your blog, your passions, etc.)

 I’m a freelance writer and former executive editor at Skiing Magazine. As of this spring, I can add “author” to my resume. But first and foremost, I’m a mom. I have three small children, ages 6, 8, and 11. They run me ragged! We are passionate about skiing. I grew up ski racing in Buffalo, NY, and my kids are following in my footsteps. Although my 11-year-old is already faster than me (by 3/10ths of a second, which is truly galling.) In summer, we love to camp. We bike, hike, and paddle, but our favorite thing to do as a family is to camp.

2.  Loving your S'more section in the book.  It's a personal camping favorite of mine (and no trip seems complete without them!)  So, I have to ask- how do YOU like your 'Mallows/S'mores??  Traditional or fancy?

S’mores are the quintessential camp dessert, to be sure. But personally, I find graham crackers to be overly sweet and they stick in my back molars, so I prefer to make chocolate cherry bombs. You poke a hole in your marshmallow, stuff it with semi-sweet chocolate chips and dried cherries, and roast. Super yum.

The Big Move

For the first time since our family was established (all of 4 years ago) we made the life-changing decision to pack up everything we owned, switch jobs, change cities and move on.

Not an easy decision, not an easy change.

We have been surrounded by this:

We are looking forward to digging through this:

We have been exploring this:

This Moment....

*No words necessary, just a precious moment from our life.*

Jackson Hole Packrafts and Rentals Review + Giveaway

Despite the fact that Mtn Papa and I both grew up on lakes, so far we have not been a boating family.  We both LOVE water and spent many hours growing up water skiing, boating, canoeing, paddle-boating and ice skating (on lakes, so it's relevent. :))  The simple truth right now is that we live in an area where water is just not easily accessible.  The wind (which I find myself mentioning often) is also a factor when you have children and white-caps are fairly common.


Long story short, when a friend of a friend contacted me about doing a review of her Packrafts, I was psyched!  (in case you missed it, Amy did a guest post last week.)   Located 70 miles away from us, Jackson Hole Packrafts and Rentals not only rents boats locally, but also has a program where they will send you a Packraft for rent and include a prepackaged return label and box.  The perks?  Not having to buy a raft with the ability to keep it long-term (the rates drop dramatically with time.) 


A great list from the Packraft Site about what the rafts are good for (besides the obvious):

A packraft can…

1. Easily fit into a backpack, small plane, boat, or the trunk of your car.
2. Be used to cross a river that would otherwise be impassable on foot
3. Provide shelter during a heavy down poor or during an all night rain
4. Serve as a heavenly, soft ground pad for an afternoon nap or full night’s sleep
5. Facilitate travel during endurance races
6. Get you to that hot fishing hole on the other side of the creek
7. Haul your bike or skis during a multisport adventure
8. Be paddled around a pristine alpine lake9. Carry your sheep or caribou as you float out from a seldom visited hunting spot
10. Be filled with water and let to sit in the warm sun – voila, your very own hot tub
11. Our addition: They are REALLY fun coming down a hill on snow! :)

*Guest Post* Interviewing Tiny Trekker

This week the guest post is a little different.  I have had the chance to get to know a great little company over the last few months that I wanted to highlight. Meet Erik, the owner and family-man behind Tiny Trekker.  He agreed to answer some questions I had about Tiny Trekker, his family and WHY they have a great thing going.  Like I mentioned on our gear post on Monday, they are having an excellent sale right now (up to 50% off!) and free shipping over $45 (sale ends 5/28).

Owners Erik and Julie and one of their sons

1. Tell me a little bit about why Tiny Trekkers was started?

At the time, we were parents of two little boys and while owning and operating Mountains Plus, we soon came to realize that it was really difficult to find quality outdoor gear for kids and families.  Even as industry 'insiders' it was extremely difficult.  Hence the birth of Tinytrekker.com. We’ve used our experience in finding and accumulating the best gear available to put together a site where any parent can find the tools they need to share the outdoors with their own Tiny Trekkers.

2. I know Mountains Plus Gear is a sister company....would love to know more about that site too and how they are related

Mountains Plus was originally started back in 1995 when online retail was a bit like the wild west.  Originally we specialized in selling ski and bike equipment but our offering grew and adapted over time into what we now sell today.  We specialize in finding some of the best and hardest to find gear for outdoor enthusiasts of all types. At Mountains Plus Gear you can find the most popular lightweight tents, backpacks for any adventure, footwear for everything from trail hiking to crossfit, and more. 

Tiny Trekker is an extension of Mountains Plus and our selection of great gear for your little ones. 

Cabin Memories (with a shout-out to Coleman!)

“Sponsored by Coleman and hosted by the Outdoor Blogger Network, this is my submission for the Coleman Camping Heritage Essay Contest.”  It's a little snippet into my personal life before I was married and had my own children.  Does it bring back any memories for you?  Anyone else depend on Kerosine Coleman lanterns for hours of game-playing?  

I grew up in Alaska with a dad who was trying to always get away from the phone.  He worked on-call as a doctor, and the phone meant having to leave his family and/or get up in the middle of the night (often working throughout the night and next day too.)  Therefore, we spent a lot of time at our remote cabin on his days off. 

“Cabin” to some people means electricity, running water, and no chores.  To us it meant lighting our Coleman lanterns in the winter for light (in the summer it never got dark enough to NEED lights), working to clear victims of the Spruce Bark Beetle for firewood (we literally had an entire shed full) and going through the endless task of sorting trinkets left over from previous owners.  The cabin (still) has character, and plenty of it!   The only access to it (besides bush plane) is via snowmachine (the “correct” term for ‘snowmobile’ if you are from Alaska) in the winter and hiking then boating across the lake in the summer. 

*Guest Post* Ultra-running + Pregnancy

Please welcome Amy to the blog today.  She is actually a friend of a friend and the owner of Jackson Hole Packrafts and Rentals (more on that coming soon....)  In our brief exchanges via phone and email, I knew she would have something great to contribute here!  This post is a little "rewind in time" so make sure to check out her full bio at the end!  As always, comments and discussion are welcome and appreciated! 

Location of my bachlorette party

Our campsite was the quintessential spot for an IFOT – a term used locally by photographers standing for "In Front of Tetons". We pitched our tents on the bluffs of Shadow Mountain, taking in the clear skis and peaceful surroundings.

Four lovely ladies joined me on this camping excursion. They schlepped borrowed tents, bottles of wine and a chocolate cake made in a bread pan, with two muffins perched on top.  It only took a little convincing to move my bachelorette party from Jackson Hole’s bustling bars out to the serene Gros Ventre camping area directly across from the Tetons.

It helped that I had a rock solid excuse for not drinking a sip of any concoctions my friends would otherwise dream up: I’m five months pregnant.

That magical evening on Shadow Mountain helped to quench a thirst that’s been building in me all summer for my beloved outdoors.  When I first learned I was pregnant, my second thought was, "what will happen to my ultrarunning?" (My first thought was panicked excitement).

That’s how whole-heartedly devoted I was to ultras. I had structured my whole summer around the two 100-mile races I was signed up for. I had a job that could accommodate long hours of training. I had tracked down a crew and pacers months in advance. I was calling random names and numbers given to me by friends of friends to find people to hit the trail with.

Hours after I took that positive pregnancy test, I dug out an article from Ultrarunning magazine on running during pregnancy.  Several experts were interviewed in the article, with this general consensus:

*Guest Post* No Touch Plants + Giveaway

Please welcome Teresa of Mountain Mama: Expecting Adventure once again to the blog!  She wrote a guest post for us back in February about the joys of a post-baby body (and being proud of it!)  Today she is introducing a brand new, ingenious T-shirt for kids.  BUT, since we live in a place where poisonous plants are few and far between, I wanted her to tell all about them (since I am certainly no expert at all!)  As always, please feel free to leave her some love in the comments (and make sure you read all the way to the end for a chance to win!)

There are few things more rewarding for a mountain mama than watching their little ones take their first steps on a favorite trail. Even better are the many mountain milestones to follow. 

I beamed with pride the first time Fausto, now 4, rejected the kid-carrier backpack that was his perch on many trails over many months and insisted on walking on his own. He quickly accepted my rules: don't drink from the stream, pee away from water, sunblock is a must. One initiation I dreaded, though, was the first encounter with what we call the “no touch” plants. Where we hike, these include an abundance of stinging nettle and poison oak, though I'm sure it won't be long before we run into their cousins, sumac and ivy. 

Stinging nettle is pretty easy to spot, with it's almost fuzzy appearance and needle-like protrusions on the edges of the leaves. Poison oak is trickier. I still find myself ticking the traits off the list when I see a dead-ringer – leaves of three, oily appearance... But sometimes it's hard to be sure.

On one hike, while Fausto chanted “no touch, no touch” at every suspicious bit of flora, I thought, wouldn't it be great to have a cheat-sheet that he and I could both reference to make sure we were identifying these plants correctly. That's when inspiration struck, what could be better than having the littlest hikers be the cheat-sheet? 

Photo credit: Danielle Kaiser

*Gear Review* Stonewear Designs + a Giveaway for Moms!

Mother's Day is just around the corner and, as you can imagine, we are big fans of moms around here :)

This weekend we honor the moms that raised us; the moms that get their families outside; the moms that cook and clean and work and love; the moms that we are.  This post will be directed more at moms than usual, but if you are MARRIED to a mom or HAVE a mom, listen up! :) (there's a chance to win at the end here...)

First of all, I wanted to highlight a women's clothing company I am especially fond of because of their mission to help us women stay active in clothing that can keep up with our busy lives.  Stonewear Designs strives to "make clothing to help us (women) feel beautiful while performing under strenuous demands."   Established in 1996 in Boulder, CO, the company (made up entirely of women) has been setting the bar high for climbing, yoga, fitness and travel wear (all made here in the USA.)

I have mentioned before that I personally demand my clothing to work throughout my active day which includes my daily-routine, chasing my kids, going on a walk/hike, biking and being involved in the community.  When I first discovered Stonewear Designs at a shop in Jackson (WY), I felt like I had made a pretty great discovery.  Wear upon wear has confirmed that.   Their prices may seem a bit higher than you would expect, but you are definitely getting what you pay for (clothing that performs AND lasts).

Even more attractive about Stonewear Designs is their commitment to make clothing that fits EVERY body (not an easy task!)  They truly work hard to make their designs flatter and look good.  I am proud of the fact that I am a mom, I am active and love the outdoors, and I am ok with the fact that my body is not "perfect".  I like clothing that is ok with that too.

Without further adieu....

Reflections on Screen Free + Contest

Screen Free.  Possible?  

Did you take full advantage?
Did you take advantage at all?
Did you find it easier or tougher than you thought it would be?
Did you decide it was silly and there were no benefits?

After a full week, Mtn Papa and I sat down just to reflect a little bit about how it worked for us.... (Spoiler - we are going to do this Screen Free Business a bit more often!)

The good, the bad and the unplugged: 
What was great:
- We went to bed earlier every night and spent time reading (something I seem to do less and less lately.)
- I quit wasting time on social media stuff and was very focused when I checked my emails.  I had more time (crazy, I know!) for the simple things (like throwing a ball with my son!)
- Mtn Papa didn't worry about emails or balancing the checkbook or looking for "THE" truck on ebay, etc. after having to be on the computer at work.
- As a couple we made it more of a priority to play games together, go on extra walks as a family and just spend a bit more time outside.

What we didn't expect:
- We really don't watch TV hardly at all, but we do have two PBS stations ;)  After a long stretch of sleepless nights, I was wishing I could sit J in front of some quality shows for just 30 minutes so I could sneak in a little extra sleep in the morning.
- I didn't miss FB or Twitter.
- The effect on our kids was minimal because of their ages and lack of TV usage in our house.
- It was a great vacation of sorts!
- The house wasn't any cleaner....hmmm.....

Get Outside and PLAY! + Gear up Day 5!

Welcome to Day 5 of "Gearing Up Families to go Screen Free"!  If this is your first time hearing about the event, please check out our updated tab here.  Make sure you check out the giveaways at the end of this post (they are ONLY open for 24 hours- midnight to midnight EST!) 

The importance of PLAY for all ages
There is no replacement for the outdoors as THE playground for kids and adults alike.  Gross motor skills are developed through running, jumping, climbing and exploring.  Motor manipulation skills are improved while passing a ball or pushing a friend on the swing.  Fresh air alleviates stress and brings peace.  The ever-changing environment outdoors challenges on a mental level too while discovering insects, birds, the movement of dirt and the speed and direction of winds (which we know about all-to-well around here!)

If you are new here, you may not know how strongly we promote a "15 minute" rule.  We are outside EVERY day for AT LEAST 15 minutes (though usually much, much longer.)  There are a few exceptions, of course, but we know how related our outdoor time is to the happiness of our family.

We believe recess is crucial (even for home-schooled kids, kids not yet in school AND adults) and love what Keen is doing through their RECESS promotion (check it out if you haven't seen it yet!) is changing workplaces.